Migraine: More Than Just a Headache

What is a migraine?

Migraine is a common neurological condition that causes recurring headaches, often severe, along with other symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. It is much more than an ordinary headache and can be genuinely disabling, interfering with work, study and daily life. Many people find their attacks follow a recognisable pattern over time.

Recognising a migraine

Migraine attacks vary, but typical features include:

• A moderate to severe headache, often throbbing and frequently on one side
• Worsening with movement or physical activity
• Feeling sick or being sick
• Increased sensitivity to light, sound or smells
• A wish to lie down in a dark, quiet room

Some people experience warning symptoms beforehand, known as an aura. This can include visual changes such as flashing lights or zigzag patterns, tingling, or difficulty speaking, usually lasting up to an hour before the headache.

What sets off attacks

Triggers differ from person to person, and an attack often results from several adding up at once. Common triggers include:

• Stress, or the relief after a period of stress
• Poor or irregular sleep
• Skipping meals or dehydration
• Hormonal changes, for example around periods
• Certain foods, alcohol or caffeine changes
• Bright lights or strong smells

Keeping a simple diary of attacks and possible triggers can reveal useful patterns.

Treating an attack

Treatment aims to ease symptoms and shorten the attack. Options include:

• Simple painkillers such as paracetamol or anti-inflammatory medicines, which work best taken early. Our pain range covers common choices, and our paracetamol vs ibuprofen guide helps you compare them.
• Anti-sickness medicines to settle nausea, sometimes alongside painkillers.
• Specific migraine medicines that target the migraine process, used when simple painkillers are not enough.
• Rest in a dark, quiet room, which many people find helpful.

A word of caution: taking painkillers very frequently can lead to medication-overuse headache, where the treatment itself starts to cause headaches. If you are reaching for painkillers on many days each month, see a doctor.

Preventing migraines

If attacks are frequent or severe, a doctor may suggest preventive treatment taken regularly to reduce how often attacks occur. Alongside this, lifestyle measures help many people:

• Keep regular sleep, meal and hydration routines
• Manage stress where possible
• Reduce known triggers identified from your diary
• Build in regular, moderate exercise

When to seek help

See a doctor if migraines are frequent, severe, or not controlled by simple measures, or if the pattern of your headaches changes. Seek urgent medical care for a sudden, severe headache that comes on like a thunderclap, a headache with fever and a stiff neck, weakness, confusion, slurred speech, or vision loss, as these can signal a serious problem rather than a migraine.

Living well with migraine

Migraine is a long-term condition for many people, but it can usually be managed well with the right combination of acute treatment, prevention and lifestyle adjustments. Identifying your personal triggers and having a clear plan for when an attack starts makes a real difference. You can browse suitable relief options when you shop all, and our guide on managing chronic nerve pain offers broader strategies for living with recurring pain.

The bottom line

Migraine is a neurological condition causing recurrent, often severe headaches with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Treating attacks early, identifying triggers, and considering prevention for frequent attacks all help. Persistent or changing headaches, and any red-flag symptoms, should prompt a visit to the doctor.

General information only — not medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet and consult a doctor or pharmacist before starting any medication.